Which Image Generator Does ChatGPT Use?
ChatGPT’s current image feature is ChatGPT Images 2.5. Here’s how it differs from OpenAI’s API model names and retired DALL·E GPT.
ChatGPT currently uses ChatGPT Images 2.5 for image creation and editing. OpenAI presents that as the user-facing image feature in ChatGPT. It is separate from developer-facing API model identifiers such as GPT-Image-2.5 Flare and GPT-Image-2.5 Sunburst.
OpenAI’s public documentation does not establish that every image request in ChatGPT uses one fixed API model ID. The safest answer is therefore: the ChatGPT feature is called ChatGPT Images 2.5; API model names are a separate naming system.
What image generator does ChatGPT use now?
As of September 2026, the current product name is ChatGPT Images 2.5. It supports creating new images and editing existing ones inside ChatGPT.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the current ChatGPT image feature called? | ChatGPT Images 2.5 |
| Is that the same as an API model ID? | No. OpenAI documents API identifiers separately. |
| Which API image model names are documented? | GPT-Image-2.5 Flare and GPT-Image-2.5 Sunburst |
| Does ChatGPT always use one of those exact IDs? | Public documentation does not confirm a single fixed ID for every ChatGPT request. |
| Is the official DALL·E GPT still available in ChatGPT? | No. OpenAI says it was retired on August 30, 2026. |
ChatGPT Images 2.5 versus GPT-Image API models
These names refer to different layers of OpenAI’s product line:
- ChatGPT Images 2.5: the name users see in ChatGPT when they create or edit images.
- GPT-Image-2.5 Flare and GPT-Image-2.5 Sunburst: developer-facing model identifiers listed in OpenAI API documentation.
A product label does not prove which internal or API model handles every request. Model routing can change as OpenAI updates the service, so avoid treating “ChatGPT Images 2.5” as an API parameter unless the current API documentation explicitly tells you to do so.
Does ChatGPT still use DALL·E?
The official DALL·E GPT in ChatGPT was retired on August 30, 2026, according to OpenAI’s Help Center. For current image creation in ChatGPT, use the Images feature instead.
DALL·E remains a historical name that appears in older articles, tutorials and screenshots. Those references may describe an earlier ChatGPT experience and should not be used as the current product name.
Where is ChatGPT Images 2.5 available?
OpenAI says ChatGPT Images 2.5 is available to ChatGPT, ChatGPT Work and Codex users on desktop, mobile and the web. Help Center documentation also describes ChatGPT Images as available across all tiers and on web, iOS and Android, while noting that related modes can vary by plan and rollout.
If the feature is missing from an account, check that you are using the current ChatGPT app or website, then allow for staged availability changes. The absence of a button does not identify a different image model.
How to describe it accurately
Use wording that keeps the product name and API names distinct:
ChatGPT’s current image feature is ChatGPT Images 2.5.
OpenAI also documents API models named GPT-Image-2.5 Flare and
GPT-Image-2.5 Sunburst, but public documentation does not say that
every ChatGPT request uses one fixed API model ID.Avoid saying “ChatGPT uses GPT-Image-2.5 Flare for every image” unless OpenAI publishes that exact implementation detail. It could become incorrect when routing or model versions change.
What changed from older explanations?
- Older guides often identify DALL·E as ChatGPT’s image generator. That is no longer the current product label.
- The current user-facing name is ChatGPT Images 2.5.
- Developer documentation uses separate GPT-Image model identifiers.
- Historical announcements about earlier GPT-Image versions do not answer which generator ChatGPT uses today.
Usage scale and what it does not tell you
OpenAI reported more than 3 billion images per week across ChatGPT Images and GPT-Image models in the API combined. That figure is not ChatGPT-only usage, and it does not identify which model ID served an individual request.
Common mistakes and fixes
| Mistake | Why it is wrong | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Calling the current feature “DALL·E” | The official DALL·E GPT was retired in August 2026. | Say ChatGPT Images 2.5. |
| Assuming the ChatGPT name is an API parameter | Product names and API identifiers are documented separately. | Use the current API documentation for an API request. |
| Claiming every ChatGPT request uses Flare or Sunburst | No public source here confirms a single fixed ID for all ChatGPT requests. | Describe those as documented API model names. |
| Treating availability as identical for every account | Access and related modes can vary by plan and rollout. | Check the current ChatGPT interface and Help Center. |
| Using a 2025 announcement as current proof | Earlier model announcements were superseded by later releases. | Prefer the September 2026 Images 2.5 announcement. |
Or skip the browser setup
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cURL
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" \
-d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY \
--data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com \
-o shot.webpPython
import requests
r = requests.get(
"https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot",
params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"},
timeout=90,
)
r.raise_for_status()
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
const q = new URLSearchParams({
access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY',
url: 'https://stripe.com'
});
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if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
const data = Buffer.from(await res.arrayBuffer());
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FAQ
Is ChatGPT Images 2.5 the same thing as DALL·E?
No. DALL·E is the retired official GPT experience in ChatGPT; ChatGPT Images 2.5 is the current user-facing feature.
Can I select Flare or Sunburst in ChatGPT?
The dossier identifies them as API model names. It does not establish that ChatGPT exposes them as selectable models in the consumer interface.
Does the answer change by device?
The feature is offered across web, desktop and mobile, but availability of related modes can vary by plan and rollout.
Will the model name change again?
It can. Image features, model versions and API identifiers are updated over time, so include a date when publishing technical documentation.
Where should developers look for API model details?
Use OpenAI’s current developer documentation for supported model identifiers and request parameters. Do not infer API behavior from the ChatGPT product label alone.
